20 Mouthwatering Burger Recipes

In Season, Recipes, Seasonal Foods, Summer
on July 9, 2014
Gingered Buffalo Burger with Jicama
Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn
https://easykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/gingered-buffalo-burger-with-jicama-150x150.jpg

Nothing says summertime like a big, juicy bite of a perfectly grilled burger. However, cooking the same old beef patty recipe again and again can get a tad boring. If you’re ready to shake up your summer burger routine, try one of these 20 recipes instead. With fillings varying from pork to quinoa and flavors from Chinese to Greek, one of these recipes is sure to get you out of that burger rut.

Walnut Bean Burgers

California Walnut Board

California Walnut Board

These walnut lentil burgers are surprisingly hearty even though they’re mostly made from nuts and beans. If you’re not a fan of lentils, swap them out for split peas for an equally healthy and filling patty.

 

Apple Turkey Burgers with Cranberry-Apple Salsa

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Apple Association

Cranberry-apple salsa may seem like an unusual topping, but the sweetness really complements the turkey meat well, and the apple incorporated into the patty helps bring the dish’s flavors together.

 

Cheese-Stuffed Lamb Burgers with Pistachio Pesto

Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

From the lamb patty to the cheese stuffing to the pistachio pesto, these burgers are anything but run-of-the-mill ordinary. Plus, the pesto also makes a great spread for turkey burgers or a sauce for pasta.

 

Hoisin-Glazed Salmon Burgers with Pickled Cucumbers

Nicole Morrissey

Nicole Morrissey

The sweet and salty hoisin sauce glaze on these salmon burgers provides a nice counterbalance to the fresh pickled cucumbers. Don’t be intimidated, though—this recipe includes instructions for easy pickling.

 

Greek Turkey Burgers 

The National Turkey Federation

The National Turkey Federation

Can’t eat one more beef burger with a bun? Then try these Greek-inspired turkey burgers to liven up your summer grilling. They’re even folded in warm pita bread for that authentic Greek taste.

 

Fish Sauce Burgers

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

These burgers may not seem like anything special—but the savory flavor of fish sauce brings them to an entirely new level. Try topping them with slices of daikon instead of onion for a truly unique flavor combo.

 

In-N-Out Copycat Burger

Leigh Anne Wilkes

Leigh Anne Wilkes

The famed burger chain In-N-Out can only be found in a few southwest states, but you can still bring some of that delicious Californian flavor to your table with this copycat recipe.

 

Smoky and Sweet Chicken Burgers

Steve Hill

Steve Hill

Barbecue meets the grill in this tasty chicken burger recipe. Not only that, but this burger also includes America’s most beloved meat: bacon. Need we say more?

 

Grilled Pork Burger Indochine

Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

The South Eastern flavors of this pork burger come from the Thai-style dressing, which is balanced out by the crunchy French roll “bun.” You can find the dressing’s fish sauce in the Asian section of your grocery store.

 

Caribbean Turkey Burgers with Honey Pineapple Chutney

The National Turkey Federation

The National Turkey Federation

These burgers are sure to sweeten your summer table with a homemade honey pineapple chutney that takes its cues from the Caribbean. For a real island taste, serve on Hawaiian sweet bread rolls.

 

Grilled Portobello Burgers with Caramelized Onions

Jackie Sobon | VeganYackAttack.com

Jackie Sobon | VeganYackAttack.com

This vegetarian recipe swaps out the classic beef patty for portobello mushrooms instead. Don’t think this burger is short on flavor just because it lacks meat, though: toppings include avocados, apples, and jicama.

 

Turkey Cheeseburgers with Sun-dried Tomato Mayonnaise

American Profile

American Profile

Dress up store-bought mayonnaise with sun-dried tomatoes and apple cider vinegar to make the perfect condiment for these cheddar cheese-stuffed turkey burgers.

 

Gingered Buffalo Burgers with Jicama

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Jicama, also known as Mexican yam or turnip, is low on calories and when incorporated into this tasty buffalo patty, it adds extra crunch.

 

Beef and Black Bean Burgers

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

These burgers are a nice compromise between the traditional beef burger and healthy vegetarian burger. By adding a can of black bean to lean beef, you’ll lower the fat and calories in this recipe and create a stout patty that can stand up to the grill.

 

Turkey Burgers with Feta and Herbs

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Mark Boughton Photography / styling: Teresa Blackburn

Feta cheese and turkey meat are the perfect light summer meal combination. If you like more toppings on your burger than just cheese, try making some fresh peach salsa and spooning a little on each patty.

 

Quinoa Sweet Potato Burgers with Snow Pea Slaw

Meredith Steele

Meredith Steele

Just because you’re trying to eat healthy or have dietary restrictions doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious summer burger. This vegetarian recipe packs in the flavor thanks to nutty quinoa, sweet potatoes, and snow pea slaw.

 

Raisin Lamb Burgers with Mint Yogurt Sauce

Meredith Steele

Meredith Steele

The golden raisins and pine nuts in the this lamb patty are sure to be a delightful surprise for whoever bites into these delicious burgers. The mint yogurt sauce is a unique substitute for the usual ketchup, mustard, and mayo, too.

 

Chicken Marsala Burgers

Nicole Morrissey

Nicole Morrissey

 

While it may seem too good to be true, this recipe—created by a registered dietician—is not only better for you, but it takes a traditional Italian meal and puts it on a burger. The ground chicken actually lightens the caloric load, and the marsala topping combines wine and bacon for a savory bite.

 

Five-Spice Burgers with Warm Mu Shu Slaw

Thinkstock

Thinkstock

Chinese five-spice powder adds a kick to these burger patties, while the crunchy Mu Shu slaw topping helps balance out the spice. Either ground chicken or pork meat works well with these Asian flavors.

 

Chia Chipotle Bean Burger

Bill Milne

Bill Milne

Chia seeds are the new “it” superfood, and they combine with black beans to create a burger patty that’s high in protein and fiber and low in fat. As a bonus, you can refrigerate the leftover chia gel in a sealed container for up to two weeks, so you’ll have some on hand for even more healthy recipes.